Dear Members of the Georgetown University Community,
At Georgetown University, we take your safety, health, security and emergency preparedness very seriously. Please review the important information below about safety resources, public health and securing your property so that you can keep yourself and our community safe and healthy in the year ahead.
A viewable/printable summary of resources is also available for the Georgetown University Police Department (GUPD) and Office of Emergency Management (OEM).
Thank you for your attention to these matters, and we hope you have a great semester.
Sincerely,
Jay Gruber
Associate Vice President of Public Safety
Michala Koch
Acting Chief Public Health Officer
Personal Safety
For your personal safety and the well-being of the community, always practice the following strategies:
Use the LiveSafe Mobile App. LiveSafe is a personal security system that connects users with GUPD when activated during an emergency situation. The app also allows users to report suspicious activity, request a SafeRide Shuttle or personal escort, access resources on emergency preparedness, and use SafeWalk to share their location with friends.
Confirm/update your contact information for HOYAlerts. All current students, faculty and staff are automatically enrolled to receive email and text messages from HOYAlert, Georgetown’s mass notification system used in the event of an emergency situation or incident on campus. Please take a moment to confirm or update your HOYAlert contact information. You can also “follow” HOYAlert on X (Twitter).
Enroll in Alert DC. AlertDC is the official District of Columbia communications system that allows you to receive emergency alerts, notifications, and updates directly from DC’s public safety officials. AlertDC allows you to pick and choose what kind of notifications you want to receive through text and/or email and the time of day you wish to receive alerts. It is a great way to stay informed of important events and emergencies throughout the District.
If You See Something… Say Something. Program phone numbers for the Georgetown University Police Department (GUPD), (202) 687-4343, and Georgetown’s EMS responders, GERMS, (202) 687-4357, into your phones. Off-campus, contact 9-1-1 to report an emergency. If you are concerned about threatening behavior or are worried about potential violence to the university or someone at Georgetown, contact the Georgetown Threat Assessment Program.
Run-Hide-Fight Training. Keeping the Georgetown community safe from an active shooter incident is a top priority. Visit activeshooter.georgetown.edu for information on how to stay safe during an active shooter incident and how to attend one of GUPD’s Run-Hide-Fight training sessions.
Be Aware and Vigilant. Never walk alone at night, and always walk along well-lit and well-traveled routes. Take earbuds out of your ears, and keep your attention on your surroundings rather than your phone. Please use caution and use marked crosswalks, particularly near on-campus construction areas. Always walk bicycles and scooters on sidewalks and reduce speed when approaching pedestrians and/or construction zones. Scooters should never be taken or ridden indoors. Please be considerate of community members, and keep your voices down and your behavior respectful as you move through the residential neighborhoods.
Sexual Misconduct Resources and Response. Georgetown has resources in place to support members of the University community who have experienced or wish to report sexual misconduct, which includes all forms of interpersonal violence. These resources include options for medical care, safety planning, confidential counseling, and other supportive measures. Additionally, off-campus resources are available for the University community. All resources may also be found on the Sexual Misconduct Reference Guide.
Report a Bias Incident. The University considers acts of hate and bias unacceptable and antithetical to its commitment to an inclusive and respectful community. Through the Bias Reporting System, Georgetown is able to track and review bias-related incidents, and provide information and support to individuals who make reports or participate in the bias reporting process.
Take Precautions with Ridesharing. Always check that the vehicle, license plate and driver information matches what’s listed in the rideshare app. Don’t give away your name prior to entering the vehicle, instead ask the driver to confirm the name of who they are picking up.
Fire Safety. It is important that all community members take fire-safety precautions and are prepared for building emergency evacuations. In the event you discover fire or smoke, or if you hear the fire alarm:
- Leave the building immediately via the stairs. DO NOT USE THE ELEVATORS.
- As you leave, close all doors, including any that are propped open, and pull the fire alarm station, if not already ringing.
- Once outside, follow directions from Building Emergency Coordinators (identifiable due to their bright yellow vest) or GUPD and gather in designated assembly areas. Do not congregate in front of the entrance to the building.
- Remain outside the building until the “ALL CLEAR” is given by Building Emergency Coordinators or GUPD. Please note: silencing of the alarms does not constitute an “ALL CLEAR.”
Students in university housing should take special care to note prohibited items that are a fire hazard. If you are living off-campus, please make sure your residence has working smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers.
E-Scooters and E-Bikes. Due to the fire-safety danger presented by lithium-ion-equipped micro-mobility devices, Georgetown University has banned these devices from all university-owned and operated buildings. This policy covers the storage and charging of all micro-mobility devices equipped with lithium-ion batteries including but not limited to, e-scooters, e-bikes and hoverboards, and it applies to all students, faculty, staff, and visitors at Georgetown University. The policy is being put in place out of an abundance of caution to protect your safety because when lithium batteries fail to charge safely or are damaged, they may present a fire and/or explosion hazard.
Rooftop Safety. Unauthorized access to prohibited rooftop spaces is a significant safety hazard. It is also a serious violation of the Code of Student Conduct and can result in disciplinary action.
Public Health
Please read our Resources and Guidance for COVID-19 and Common Respiratory Illnesses for more information.
Securing Your Property
We want your belongings to be safe, and the university cannot be responsible for personal items. Therefore, please take the following actions to protect your items:
Lock Your Doors. GUPD recommends all students lock their doors every time they leave their room or home. Laboratory and office spaces should also be secured if they can be.
Lock Your Laptops. Never leave laptops unattended. Contact GUPD for laptop registration, lock and theft prevention information.
Lock Your Bikes. To mitigate thefts, all bicyclists are encouraged to use U-locks, which are more secure and more difficult to cut than cable locks. Discounted U-locks can be purchased from GUPD, located in Village C West, or at the university bookstore. GUPD also offers free bicycle registration, which can help facilitate your bike’s return if stolen, allow GUPD to assist if your key is lost, or contact you if your bike appears abandoned.
Share a Complaint, Compliment or Concern with GUPD. GUPD investigates all complaints regarding conduct by the department. If you believe you have been subjected to, or witnessed, police misconduct of any type by GUPD, please report the incident, anonymously if preferred, via the Complaints, Compliments and Feedback form.
Mark Your Calendars
Hoya Ready Preparedness Fair. In celebration of National Preparedness Month, we will host the Hoya Ready Preparedness Fair on Thursday, September 12, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Red Square (rain location: HFSC Herman Room), which will be a fun opportunity for the Georgetown community to learn about safety and emergency preparedness resources and lifesaving skills like CPR and Stop the Bleed while enjoying free snacks and giveaways.